OK, I had them installed yesterday afternoon. When I first arrived at the dealership I wasn't too impressed. It didn't seem like the car was lowered at all. After letting it sit overnight I think it settled in more. The rears are fine, but I still feel the fronts could be lowered more. The main issue here I think is the fact that the W209 doesn't have front spring pads. I bet thats why the front didn't have as drastic of a lowering. I think the W208's get better results from these Euro-spec springs. Overall I'm happy. It is lower. All I need now is 18 inch rims to fill out the wheel well.
Here are the pics. Its really hard to see the difference. I think since the car is black it makes the wheel gap harder to see. Unfortunately I didn't measure the wheel well gap before so I don't know what stock was but I can tell you what it is now. This is the distance between the tire and the fender:
Front: 2.5 inches
Rear: 2 inches

Maybe someone can measure their gap and let me know what stock is. I would guess they lowered the car about 0.5 inches so far. Maybe it will be more as time goes by.

 

Before pics:







Front tire:



Rear tire:

 

After pics:






Front Tire:



Rear Tire:

 

Reason being is that I believe the W209's come with Mcpherson struts like the W203 cars(C32 and C55).The W208's come with a separate spring and shock setup all around and does not use Mcpherson struts.

Of course you are going to get a different effect. You would have been better off going with a cup kit ,or just lowering springs on your car. That's why your car does not look lower in the front and it probably did'nt get lower.

The MB E,CLK and C classes from 2k2 to 1998 have a totally different front suspension setup than you. You ask me I think you have a better setup just like the BMW.

 

Nothing is ever easy with this car.

 

Not tru. You would have definitely found out what to use if you were seeking info on what suspension to put on a W209 CLK 55. it's all here. Your car ghas a totally different suspension than a W208 CLK55. You even could have asked the guys driving the C32's and C55's what suspension mods to get.

 

I wasn't looking for anything aftermarket. These springs were nice because they are OEM.

 

But the purpose was to lower the car. Still sits too high in the front. Want my advice, do some research where I mentioned and you will perhaps find a nice reliable kit that would lower your car.

 

If you're looking to slam your car down to the pavement, I believe H&R Springs are the lowest possible for the W209 CLKs. The lowering springs are low enough that there is less than a one inch gap between the tires and the fender.

I've got a set of Brabus shocks and springs and I wasn't that impressed with the overall drop. Especially once you get larger wheels, your car will rise a bit, although the gap will shrink.

If the H&R shocks won't do it for you, you will need the DIY conversion kit.

 

guys coilovers are the best option for the W209 if you want to lower your car and keep the OEM ride quality. you can adjust the ride height, there will be no bottoming out, and they are reliable. i will takes some pics, i promise, of my car with the KW V1's.

 

stiggs the car does appear a little lower. invest in a set of nice spacers and you will be shocked at how much more muscular your car will look. 10mm in the front and 15mm in the rear and you will be amazed at the difference. check out ezaccessory.com. they make billet aluminum hub-centric spacers for the CLK 55 AMG. they also sell chrome wheel bolts to finish things off. well worth the money in my opinion.

 

Thanks man. I will check that out. Putting in spacers doesn't affect anything does it?

Again I wasn't looking for a slammed drop so these springs did just fine for me.

 

Spacers just push the rims out so that the inside of the rim doesn't rub against the inner wheel well. Just make sure they're "hubcentric".

 

I just checked ezaccessory.com, but dont know which one I should get..

can you tell me specific parts that I need to buy? they are in inches instead of mm.

 

Spacers perhaps would give him a nice look but more importantly the right springs would give him the overall look he so desires. He may not even want to put spacers on if the car gets lowered properly.

 

I think I'm done with mods for a while. Again, the only next step would be 18 inch rims. Maybe later.

 

Should I embarrass you on this board too? And mention the distance from top-of-tire to fender on our stock '04 W209 is:
F = 2.25"
R = 1.5"

 

You suck dude! LOL

At the next GTG I'm bringing a tape measure so we can see where we both stand in inches....then after we can measure the wheel gap.

 

I think you should give them a little more time too settle. I used Kleemann springs on my 03 w-209 CLK 5.5 AMG. The drop was perfect for me AFTER about 3000 miles of Hwy way driving. I installed Speedybenz rear camber bars And had the front & rear alignment. Lowering the front with the springs & having the toe in reset. Got rid of my outside edge thread wear issues Typlical to this Model car.

Give it some more road time. Remember if youdid not change the shocks/Struts, when you did the springs & you used the OEM pieces. They have developed a wear path inside the tube , at the old ride height. The new (lower) ride height means the strut piston in the tube now is in the process of sealing on a new area. Hope this helps ___PTE___

 

Thanks. I did not know that. Any drop I can get with OEM parts I'll be happy with. Not sure yet if I would recommend this mod. I'll vote on that after 3K miles.

 

There can be a problem with not matching the springs to the shocks, in that the stock shocks can really wear out alot faster.

I know that Bilstien does a PSS9 coil over set up that is adjustable and will improve the looks and handling of the car. KW also has a nice coil over set up for the CLK.

 

it is better to call or email ezaccessories.com. their website is a little confusing. just tell them you want the billet aluminum hubcentric spacers for Mercedes. i have ordered a 10mm set for the front and 15mm for the rear. mainly to clear the kw coilovers i am putting on this sunday. but they do make the car look better in general. fills the wheelwell much better, especially in the rear.

 

I'll save you the trouble. 75.875" with bare feet. Over 76" with shoes on.

 

Dammit....I lose!

Couple more weeks and I will measure the gap again. Maybe then I will be about the same as you TC!